[SAMWolf]

State Seal

On the shield of our state seal are a steamboat, a plow, a beehive and a sheaf of wheat, symbols of Arkansas' industrial and agricultural wealth. The Angel of Mercy, the Sword of Justice and the Goddess of Liberty surround a bald eagle. The eagle holds in its beak a scroll inscribed with the Latin phrase "Regnat Populus", our state motto, which means "The People Rule". The seal was adopted in its basic form in 1864, and in its present form in 1907.

State Flower

The apple blossom was adopted as the Arkansas State Flower by the General Assembly of 1901. Apple blossoms have pink and white petals and green leaves. At one time Arkansas was a major apple-producing state. The town of Lincoln in Washington County hosts the annual Arkansas Apple Festival.

State Mammal

The white-tail deer was adopted as the Arkansas State Mammal by the General Assembly of 1993. The deer raises the white underside of its tail when frightened. Young white-tail deer have a white-spotted red coat which changes to brownish-gray before the end of its first year.

State Tree

The pine was adopted as the Arkansas State Tree by the General Assembly of 1939. The loblolly and short-leaf pine are varieties of southern yellow pine found in Arkansas. Both may grow to be 100 feet tall and can be found in the Ouachita National Forest and the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

World War II 1941-1945
Medal of Honor Recipient

PRIVATE
WILSON D. WATSON, USMCR
(DECEASED)

Private Wilson D. Watson, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism on Iwo Jima in World War II, was born on February 16, 1921 at Earle, Arkansas, the son of Mrs. Ada Watson. He died on December 19, 1994 in Russellville, Arkansas.

Before his enlistment at Little Rock, Arkansas, on August 6, 1942, he worked on his father's farm and completed seven years of grade school. Private Watson received his basic training at the Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, and went overseas January 24, 1943.

Serving as an automatic rifleman with the 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division during the bitter fighting on Iwo Jima, Private Watson earned the Medal of Honor for heroism during February 26 and 27, 1945, when he single-handedly killed more than 60 Japanese and enabled his pinned-down platoon to continue the advance. He was evacuated from Iwo Jima after suffering a gun shot wound in the neck on March 2, 1945. He previously saw action at Bougainville and Guam.

Private Watson was presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman on October 5, 1945 at the White House. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps, Watson enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private on September 1946.